Was Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Ever Going to Bring Kraven, Morbius, & Madame Web Together?

The universe surrounding the Spider-Man spinoff has concluded, and although this news is no longer fresh, it remains a subject of discussion. Fans had high hopes that character Peter Parker would eventually encounter Madame Web, Morbius, and the much-anticipated villain Kraven the Hunter. While Venom might not be as pressing an issue, as the post-credits scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home hinted at potential future appearances of this alien character within the MCU. However, Sony faced difficulties when it came to scriptwriting, which led to weak stories and insufficient franchise growth. As a result, audience reception was disappointing and failed to meet box office targets. Regrettably, Kraven the Hunter performed poorly at the box office compared to other titles in the franchise.

The question arises: what were the initial plans for these characters from the Spider-Man universe? Could they potentially reappear in upcoming films like Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars? Or is it possible that Sony might have a contingency plan for the Spider-Man franchise, considering its popularity? Considering the events of 2024, fans are feeling rather disheartened and many have lost hope. However, could there be a glimmer of hope left amidst all this despair?

Where Did Sony Intend to Take Its Spider-Man Spinoff Universe Characters?

Sony’s plan to produce standalone films featuring Madame Web and Spider-Man’s adversaries served as an opportunity to acquaint audiences with these characters before potentially merging them with Peter Parker at a later stage. The financial success of the initial Venom film, which raked in over $800 million at the box office, suggested that this spinoff universe could thrive independently from Spider-Man. In essence, the robust ticket sales inspired Sony to experiment with solo films for other characters as well. This strategy might also enable the studio to establish its own franchise, offering possibilities for crossovers, sequels, and even a series structure reminiscent of the MCU.

Although Marvel Studios had granted permission for the character of Spider-Man to be featured in their projects, Sony initially felt that it wouldn’t be well-received by the audience if he was part of a non-MCU production. They were optimistic about this approach, but it didn’t work out as planned. As a result, things became complicated and unclear, with the scripts for the spinoffs giving no clear indication of how they would eventually culminate in a confrontation with Spider-Man. The roles of Madame Web, Morbius, and Kraven the Hunter have been left undefined since then, making it challenging to predict their progression toward an encounter with Spider-Man.

It’s worth considering the concept of connecting certain antagonists to Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Spider-Man, as Sony initially aimed to create a Sinister Six universe following The Amazing Spider-Man 2. This would have involved assembling Spider-Man’s adversaries such as Dr. Octopus, Vulture, Electro, Rhino, Sandman, and Mysterio. However, the lukewarm response to the second film and other production complications led to a reconsideration of this villain team-up event. Instead, Tom Holland was introduced as the new Spider-Man within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It seems that Sony’s plan for a Sinister Six team-up may have been delayed rather than completely canceled due to the impact of COVID-19. The pandemic has caused reshoots of Morbius’ post-credits scenes and changes to Madame Web’s script to ensure harmony with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man franchise. It’s possible that Morbius was intended to be part of the villain team given his invitation by Vulture, and Kraven is not far off since he appears in the Sinister Six comics. Madame Web could potentially aid Peter Parker against his enemies as she does in the original stories.

Restructuring the villains to lean more towards antiheroes rather than traditional antagonists made it challenging to view them as adversaries for the Web-Slinger, creating ambiguity about how Sony could execute this transition without it feeling forced. This is particularly relevant when considering Kraven, whose choice of victims underwent a significant transformation in his film. However, there remains potential for him to fully embody a Spider-Man villain if Marvel Studios still has plans to fulfill fans’ desires. With the cancellation of the spinoffs, it’s clear that all is not lost. There are still opportunities to exploit some of the openings created by Sony’s productions.

How Can Kraven the Hunter, Morbius, and Madame Web Fit Into the Future

Marvel Studios had voiced concerns early on about Sony potentially mishandling Spider-Man, along with fan backlash towards Avi Arad, a key figure in the MCU and a powerful producer for the Spider-Man franchise. Notably, Tom Holland recently commended the script for the next Spider-Man film, yet it’s said that revisions are still ongoing due to plot complications. It remains unclear if Madame Web, Morbius, or Kraven the Hunter will appear in this upcoming production, although the flexible nature of the Marvel Multiverse allows for surprises. Some speculate that Kevin Feige may be working to correct Sony’s errors. Despite severe fan criticism and dwindling optimism, there remains a strong desire among fans for a Spider-Man crossover with new characters.

Beginning with Madame Web, this presents an opportune moment to concoct something fresh at the present time. With a narrative situated in 2003, she can effortlessly interact with Peter Parker in the current era, especially when you take into account Julia Carpenter, Anya Corazón, and Mattie Franklin, who possess abilities that surpass Spider-Man’s. The film concludes with these three characters not yet having assumed hero roles, but with Cassandra envisioning them as heroes in the future, leaving room for growth. It’s worth noting that, given the depicted era (2000s), although it’s improbable that Tobey Maguire will reappear, Madame Web could still cross paths with his Spider-Man. Who knows? The MCU is well-known for its unexpected twists and turns.

Concerning Morbius, despite it seeming highly improbable for its narrative to intersect with that of the web-slinger, one of the post-credit scenes provides a significant link. Vulture, who was previously a villain in Spider-Man: Homecoming, appears to propose an alliance to the Living Vampire. This is because he suspects he has shifted universes due to something related to Peter. This sets the stage for Morbius to potentially encounter the hero at some point. As for Kraven, it’s currently most likely that his conclusion sets the stage for him to travel to New York in pursuit of the Jackal (Prof. Miles Warren), eventually crossing paths with Spider-Man.

Sony’s trajectory seemed uncertain, but there’s hope for these characters yet. There remains an opportunity for redemption – we just need to stay tuned and find out if Marvel Studios intends to intervene first. Given the potential for further development in the Avengers series, it might be wise to consider incorporating them into future films. The multiverse offers ample room for exploration, making it an intriguing prospect. It’s definitely worth pondering the possibilities.

In my experience, a few Sony’s Spider-Man Universe spinoff movies are available for streaming on Netflix at the moment. As for “Kraven”, I haven’t seen it announced when it will be released for home viewing.

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2025-01-10 02:14